Module 3
Supporting Processors and
Upgrading Memory
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1
Part 1
CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1101)
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2
Module Objectives
• By the end of this module, you should be able to:
• Compare characteristics and features of processors used for personal computers
• Select, install, and upgrade a processor
• Compare the different kinds of physical memory and how they work
• Upgrade memory
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3
Types and Characteristics of Processors (1 of
2)
• The processor is installed on a motherboard and determines system computing power
• Two major processor manufacturers are Intel and AMD
• Features affecting processor performance and compatibility with motherboards include:
− Processor speed
− Lithography
− Socket and chipset the processor can use
− Multiprocessing abilities, multiprocessing, multithreading, multicore processing, and dual
processors
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4
Types and Characteristics of Processors (2 of
2)
• Features affecting processor performance and compatibility with motherboards (continued)
− Memory cache
− Memory features on the motherboard that the processor can support
− Support for virtualization
− Overclocking
• Today’s processor architectures fall into the following two categories:
− Hybrid processors – known as x86-64 processors
− 64-bit processors – known as x64 processors or IA64
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5
Motherboard Form Factors
Figure 3-3 This Intel Server Board
s2600ST has two Xeon processor
sockets and 16 slots for DDR4
memory
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6
Intel Processors
• Current families of processors for desktops and laptops include the following:
− Intel Core processors include the following:

Core X-series are made for the most powerful high-end desktops with graphics

Core i9 and Core i7 are made for high-end desktops and laptops

Core i5 is well suited for mainstream desktops and laptops

Core i3 is an entry-level processor for desktops and laptops
− Pentium processors are designed for entry-level desktops and laptops
− Atom processors are made for low-end desktops, notebooks, and laptops
− Celeron processors are made for low-end netbooks and laptops
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7
AMD Processors
• Processors by AMD are popular in the game and hobbyist markets
− They are generally less expensive than comparable Intel processors
• Current AMD processor families include:
− For desktops, the Ryzen, Ryzen Threadripper, Athlon with Graphics, Ryzen Pro, and Athlon
Pro
− For laptops, the Ryzen, Athlon, and Chromebook
− For servers, the EPYC can have up to 64 cores
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8
ARM Processors
• ARM (Advanced RISC Machine) is a processor architecture designed to simplify the instruction
set used for computing
• ARM processors are low cost, low power, and low heat processors used in mobile devices
• Companies that use ARM processors include Samsung, Intel, Nvidia, Qualcomm, and Apple
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9
Selecting and Installing a Processor
• A hardware technician is sometimes called on to do the following tasks:
− Assemble a computer from parts
− Exchange a faulty processor
− Add a processor
− Upgrade an existing processor
• In each situation, it is necessary to know how to how to match a processor to the system
− You also need to know how to install a processor on the motherboard
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Selecting a Processor to Match System
Needs
• First requirement is to select a processor that the motherboard is designed to support
• Processor features to consider include the following:
− Use the highest-performing processor the board supports
− Understand the processor’s ability to multitask
− Balance the performance and power of the CPU with that of the entire system
− Read reviews of the processors you are considering and look for reviews that include
comparison benchmarks of several processors
• When processors and coolers are boxed together, the cooler heat sink might have thermal
compound already applied to the bottom
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Installing a Processor and Cooler Assembly
(1 of 7)
• General procedure for installing an Intel processor includes the following steps:
− 1. Use an ESD strap or antistatic gloves
− 2. When replacing a processor, power down the system, unplug the power cord, press the
power button to drain the system of power, and open case
− 3. Remove the socket protective cover
− 4. Push down on the socket lever and gently push away from socket to lift lever
− 5. As you lift the lever, the socket load plate is raised
− 6. Remove protective cover from the processor
− 7. Align processor so the two notches on the edge of the processor line up with the posts
embedded on the socket
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Installing a Processor and Cooler Assembly
(2 of 7)
• General procedure for installing an Intel processor (continued):
− 8. Ensure the processor is aligned correctly in socket
− 9. Push down on the lever and gently return it to its locked position
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13
Installing a Processor and Cooler Assembly
(3 of 7)
Figure 3-12 Align the processor in
the socket using the gold triangle and
the right-angle mark
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Installing a Processor and Cooler Assembly
(4 of 7)
• General steps to install a cooler assembly include the following:
− 1. Understand how cooler posts work
− 2. Apply thermal compound if necessary (may be preapplied)
− 3. Some heavy coolers provide a plate that fits underneath the motherboard
− 4. After the plate is installed, install the cooler on top of the processor
− 5. For lighter coolers with locking pins, verify locking pins are turned counter-clockwise as
far as they will go
− 6. Connect the power cord from the cooler fan to the motherboard
• Check BIOS/UEFI setup to verify the system recognized the processor
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Installing a Processor and Cooler Assembly
(5 of 7)
Figure 3-19 Connect the cooler fan
power cord to the motherboard 4-pin
CPU fan header
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Installing a Processor and Cooler Assembly
(6 of 7)
• Installing an AMD Ryzen or Athlon processor includes the following steps:
− 1. Open the socket lever and remove protective cover
− 2. Orient the four empty pin positions on the bottom with the four filled hole positions in the
socket and carefully place processor in the socket
− 3. Verify processor pins are sitting slightly into the holes
− 4. Press the lever down and gently into position
− 5. Apply thermal compound and install the cooler
− 6. Clip the clipping mechanism into place on one side of the cooler
− 7. Connect the fan power cord to the 4-pin CPU fan header on the motherboard
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Installing a Processor and Cooler Assembly
(7 of 7)
Figure 3-21 Orient the four
alignment positions on the bottom of
the processor with those in the
socket
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Knowledge Check Activity 3-1
• What new parts will you need to replace a failing processor? (Choose all that apply.)
a. Power cable
b. Processor
c.
Cooling assembly
d. Thermal compound
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Knowledge Check Activity 3-1: Answer
• What new parts will you need to replace a failing processor? (Choose all that apply.)
• Answer: b. Processor d. Thermal compound
• The new processor and fresh thermal compound are needed to replace a failing
processor. The power cable and cooling assembling can be reused.
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20
Memory Technologies (1 of 2)
• Random access memory (RAM) temporarily holds data and instructions used by the CPU
• Dynamic RAM (DRAM) loses its data rapidly, and the memory controller must refresh it several
thousand times a second
• Two major categories of memory modules include:
− All current motherboards for desktops use DIMM (dual inline memory module)
− SO-DIMM (small outline DIMM) are used on laptops
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Memory Technologies (2 of 2)
Figure 3-25 RAM on motherboards
today is stored in DIMMs
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DIMM and SO-DIMM Technologies (1 of 11)
• The “D” in DIMM stands for “dual” for the independent pins on both sides of the edge connector
• DDR (Double Data Rate) DIMM runs twice as fast as earlier DIMMs when it was invented
• DDR3 uses 240 pins and are not compatible with other DIMM types (use different notches)
• DDR4 is faster and uses less power than DDR3
− Uses 288 pins and has a single notch in the edge connector
• DDR5 is faster and uses less power than DDR4
− Offers up to 64 Gb DRAM and uses 288 pins
− It is not compatible with DDR4 memory because the notch is closer to the center
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DIMM and SO-DIMM Technologies (2 of 11)
• Factors that affect capacity, features, and performance of DIMMS include the following:
− Number of channels they use
− How much RAM is on one DIMM
− Speed
− Error-checking abilities
− Buffering
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DIMM and SO-DIMM Technologies (3 of 11)
• Single, Dual, Triple, and Quad Channels
− Single channel DIMMs means the memory controller is accessed one DIMM at a time
− Dual channels allow the memory controller to communicate with two DIMMs at the same
time and doubles speed of memory access
− Triple channel motherboards can access three DIMMs at once
− Quad channel motherboards can access four DIMMs at the same time
− DDR3, DDR4, and DDR5 DIMMs use dual channels

DDR3 DIMMs can also use triple channels

DDR3, DDR4, and DDR5 can use quad channels
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DIMM and SO-DIMM Technologies (4 of 11)
• For dual, triple, or quad channels to work the motherboard and the DIMM must support the
technology
− Motherboard manufacturers typically color-code DIMM slots to show you how to configure
dual, triple, or quad channeling
• Setting up dual channeling, know that the pair of DIMMs in a channel must be equally matched
in size, speed, and features

It is recommended to use same manufacturer
• For a triple-channel installation, three DIMM slots populated with three matching DDR3 DIMMs
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DIMM and SO-DIMM Technologies (5 of 11)
Figure 3-27 Using dual channels,
the memory controller can read from
two DIMMs at the same time
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DIMM and SO-DIMM Technologies (6 of 11)
• Expect a motherboard that uses quad channeling to have eight memory slots
− The eight DIMM slots support four channels; each channel has two slots
− The processor can address four slots or four channels at the same time
• To know which of the eight slots to populate for optimum performance, see the motherboard
user manual
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DIMM and SO-DIMM Technologies (7 of 11)
Figure 3-30 The Gigabyte AMD
X399 Gaming motherboard has eight
DIMM DDR4 slots and supports quad
channeling
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DIMM and SO-DIMM Technologies (8 of 11)
• DIMM speeds are measured in either MHz or PC rating
• A PC rating is a measure of the total bandwidth of data moving between the module and the
CPU
• To calculate the PC rating for a DDR4 DIMM, multiply the speed by 8 bytes because a DIMM
has an 8-byte or 64-bit data path
− For example, a DDR4 DIMM that runs at 3,000 MHz has a bandwidth or transfer rate of
3,000 x 8 or 24,000 MB/second, which is expressed as a PC rating of PC4 24000
− A DDR4 PC rating is labeled PC4
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DIMM and SO-DIMM Technologies (9 of 11)
• Error checking technology called ECC (error-correcting code) is used for reliability
• A DIMM that supports ECC will have an extra chip, the ECC chip
• ECC compares bits written to the module to what is later read from the module
− It can detect and correct an error in a single bit of the byte
− If there are errors in 2 bits of a byte, ECC can detect the error but cannot correct it
• With ECC the data path width is 72 bits, with the extra 8 bits used for error checking
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DIMM and SO-DIMM Technologies (10 of 11)
• Buffers and registers hold data and amplify a signal before data is written to the module
− They can increase memory performance in servers
• Some DIMMs use buffers, some use registers, and some use neither
• You might see registered memory written as RDIMM
• CAS (column access strobe) Latency is a way of measuring access timing
− It refers to the number of clock cycles it takes to write or read a column or row of data off a
memory module
− Memory module ads might give the CAS latency value within series of timing numbers
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DIMM and SO-DIMM Technologies (11 of 11)
• Types of Memory Used in Laptops
− Today’s laptops use DDR4, DDR3L, or DDR3 SO-DIMM memory
• You can only use the type of memory the laptop is designed to support
• The number of pins and the position of the notches on a SO-DIMM keep you from inserting the
wrong module in a memory slot
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Virtual RAM
• Virtual RAM, or virtual memory, is the way Windows uses space on the hard drive to enhance
the amount of RAM in a system
• Windows normally stores virtual memory in pagefile.sys, a hidden file stored in the root directory
of drive C:
• Not having enough free space on drive C: can cause pagefile.sys to be too small, resulting in a
low memory warning
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How to Upgrade Memory
• To upgrade memory means to add more RAM to a computer
• Adding more RAM might solve the following problems:
− Slow performance
− Applications refusing to load
− An unstable system
− Windows “Insufficient memory” error message
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35
How Much Memory Do I Need, and How Much
is Currently Installed?
• When deciding how much memory the system can support, consider the limitations of the
motherboard, processor, and operating system
• Limitations when considering the OS include:
− Windows requires at least 1 GB for a 32-bit installation and 2 GB for a 64-bit installation
− For 64-bit installations, Windows 10 Pro can support up to 2 TB of memory
− A 32-bit Windows 10/8/7 installation can support no more than 4 GB of memory
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36
What Type of Memory is Already Installed? (1
of 2)
• 1. Open the case and look at memory slots
− How many slots do you have?
− How many are filled?
− Review module imprint
• 2. Examine the motherboard for the imprinted manufacturer and model
• 3. Read motherboard documentation to see if the board supports dual, triple, or quad channels
• 4. If you still have not identified the module type, you can take the motherboard and old memory
modules to a good computer parts store for confirmation
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37
What Type of Memory is Already Installed? (2
of 2)
Figure 3-36 Use the label on this
DIMM to identify its features
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How Many and What Kind of Modules Can Fit
on My Motherboard? (1 of 2)
• Read motherboard documentation to find out how much memory the motherboard can hold
• DIMM modules can be installed as single modules, but won’t be as productive
• To get the full benefit of DDR4 dual-channel DIMMS, install matching DIMMs in each channel
• For a motherboard using DDR3 triple-channel DIMMs, use three matching DIMMs in the three
blue slots
− If the fourth slot is populated, the board reverts to single channeling
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How Many and What Kind of Modules Can Fit
on My Motherboard? (2 of 2)
Figure 3-39 Four DDR3 slots on a
motherboard
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How Do I Select and Purchase the Right
Memory Modules?
• Compromises might be necessary, if the exact match is not available but keep the following in
mind when selecting memory modules:
− Mixing unbuffered memory with buffered or registered memory will not work
− Match the memory module manufacturer, if possible
− If mixing memory speeds, all modules will perform at the slowest speed
• Use a web site to research your purchase
− Look for a search utility that will match memory modules to your motherboard
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How Do I Install the New Modules? (1 of 3)
• When installing RAM modules, follow these precautions:
− Always use an ESD strap
− Turn off power, unplug power cord, press power button, and remove case cover
− Handle memory modules with care
− Do not touch edge connectors on memory module or memory slot
− Do not stack cards or modules
− Look for notches on one side or in the middle for correct orientation
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How Do I Install the New Modules? (2 of 3)
• To install DIMM modules, perform the following steps:
− Pull out supporting arms on the sides of the slot
− Use notches on DIMM edge connector as a guide
− Insert DIMM straight down into the slot
− When the DIMM is fully inserted, the supporting clips pop back into place
− When the computer powers up, it counts the memory present

You can enter BIOS/UEFI to verify that the memory is recognized
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How Do I Install the New Modules? (3 of 3)
Figure 3-43 Insert the DIMM into the
slot by pressing down until the
support clips lock into position
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How to Upgrade Memory on a Laptop
• Before upgrading memory on a laptop, make sure the warranty is not being voided
− Search for best buy on a suitable and authorized part
• Upgrading memory on a laptop is similar to upgrading memory on a desktop
− Decide how much memory to upgrade
− Purchase memory
− Install it
• Be sure to match the type of memory to the type the laptop supports
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45
Knowledge Check Activity 3-2
• A motherboard has four DIMM slots; three slots are gray and the fourth is black. What type of
memory is this board designed to use?
a. DDR4
b. DDR3
c.
DDR5
d. All the options listed.
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Knowledge Check Activity 3-2: Answer
• A motherboard has four DIMM slots; three slots are gray and the fourth is black. What type of
memory is this board designed to use?
• Answer: b. DDR3
• DDR3 is the only option of DIMMs that can handle triple channels, which is indicated by
the color of the memory slots.
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Summary
• Now that the lesson has ended, you should be able to:
• Compare characteristics and features of processors used for personal computers
• Select, install, and upgrade a processor
• Compare the different kinds of physical memory and how they work
• Upgrade memory
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48